The Environment Strategy for Scotland

Footnotes

1. Programme for Government – First Minister’s speech – 6 May 2025
2. For example, the 2024 Transformative Change Assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
3. The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review
4. Doughnut | Kate Raworth
5. Guided by our Circular Economy Strategy and Route Map.
6. For example, as set out by the World Economic Forum and the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
7. B Corps in Scotland
8. UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021
9. Met Office; Climate Change Committee; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
10. Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services | IPBES secretariat
11. Living Planet Report 2024 | WWF
12. A global foresight report on planetary health and human wellbeing | UNEP
13. Climate stripes: Professor Ed Hawkins (University of Reading); #ShowYourStripes. Biodiversity stripes: biodiversitystripes.info; Living Planet Index 2024, www.livingplanetindex.org.
14. Global Footprint Network
15. Planetary boundaries – Stockholm Resilience Centre
16. Global Risks Report 2026 | World Economic Forum
17. For example, the ‘society’ and ‘economy’ pathways allow us to explore opportunities for addressing ‘indirect drivers’ of biodiversity loss, which include socio-cultural and economic factors: Understanding the Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss in Scotland – A Summary | NatureScot. Underlying causes of biodiversity loss are explored further in the 2024 Transformative Change Assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
18. Global Risks Report 2026 | World Economic Forum
19. Blue-green infrastructure refers to the blue and green features or spaces in built and natural environments that provide a range of ecosystem services. See Section 5.1 in Annex A for examples.
20. Alongside this, we will continue to promote the statutory duty to have regard to the Environmental Principles in policy development.
21. For example, this could include exploring opportunities to scale up implementation of innovative approaches that deliver multiple environmental, social and economic benefits, like community energy and blue-green infrastructure.
22. For example, the Island Communities Impact Assessment published alongside this Strategy explores opportunities for the Strategy to deliver improved outcomes for island communities, and to help avoid unintended impacts. When delivering the Strategy, we will also consider opportunities for using the Rural Assessment Toolkit to guide decision-making, in order to support delivery of positive outcomes for Scotland’s mainland rural communities.
23. New arrangements for reporting on the Environment Strategy Monitoring Framework indicators will be put in place following the forthcoming review of the framework. In the meantime, the existing webpage will be archived by National Records of Scotland.
24. Applying the Unlocking a Better Future framework for a just transition in Scotland (Stockholm Environment Institute, 2025) – section on ‘Tracking transformation’ (p. 49).
25. The Convention on Biological Diversity defines biodiversity as the diversity of life in all its forms – the diversity of species, of genetic variations within one species, and of ecosystems.
26. Managing nature risks: From understanding to action | PwC
27. National security assessment – global biodiversity loss ecosystem collapse and national security
28. These Planetary Boundaries are described as biosphere integrity, climate change, novel entities, ocean acidification, land system change, freshwater change and modification of biogeochemical flows (other boundaries include stratospheric ozone depletion and atmospheric aerosol loading).
29. IPBES Global Assessment
30. The underlying causes of biodiversity loss are identified as: disconnection of people from nature and domination over nature and other people; the inequitable concentration of power and wealth; and the prioritisation of short-term individual and material gains.
31. The IPBES Nexus Assessment also highlights the importance of biodiversity in achieving wider goals for climate, water, food and health and the need for joined-up approaches across these goals.
32. Understanding the Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss in Scotland
33. Nature Positive means reversing the downward curve of biodiversity loss so that levels of biodiversity are once again increasing, bending the curve of biodiversity loss.
34. 2023 State of Nature Scotland report
35. The acidity of ocean water increases as it absorbs atmospheric carbon dioxide. The acidity of the ocean’s surface is thought to have increased by 30-40% since the start of the industrial era. This impacts on marine ecosystems, for example by harming organisms that need calcium carbonate to make their shells or skeletons.
36. Planetary boundaries for ‘ocean acidification’, ‘modification of biogeochemical flows’ and ‘novel entities’.
37. Scotland’s Marine Assessment 2020
38. Quality Status Report 2023 – OSPAR Assessment Portal
39. Whales, dolphins and porpoise
40. Soil sealing means covering soil with a waterproof material such as tarmac.
41. Met Office; Climate Change Committee; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
42. Green Industrial Strategy Part Two: Opportunity Areas
43. Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics 2023
44. The carbon budgets set a target for an average level of emissions reduction for Scotland over each five-year period from a 1990 baseline – set at: 57% lower than baseline levels for 2026-2030; 69% lower than baseline levels for 2031-2035; 80% lower than baseline levels for 2036-2040; and 94% lower than baseline levels for 2041-2045.
45. In particular, the CCP identifies key actions in the following sectors: energy supply; transport (including international aviation and shipping); business and industrial process; residential and public (in relation to buildings in those sectors); waste management; land use, land use change and forestry; and agriculture.
46. Carbon footprint | National Performance Framework
47. These planetary boundaries are described as ‘novel entities’, ‘modification of biogeochemical flows’ and ‘atmospheric aerosol loading’.
48. Scotland – State of Nature
49. Global Plastics Outlook | OECD
50. The Environmental Protection (Wet Wipes Containing Plastic) (Scotland) Regulations 2026.
51. PAS 510:2021
52. OSPAR Convention
53. Welcome to KIMO – healthy seas, thriving communities
54. Described as ‘novel entities’.
55. Global Framework on Chemicals | UNEP – UN Environment Programme
56. Largely reflecting the regulatory landscape the UK inherited when it left the EU.
57. For example, these announcements include the commitment in the UK Government’s 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan to reform the UK REACH Regulation so that protections relating to chemical pollution can be applied quickly and efficiently in a way that is aligned with the UK’s closest trading partners, especially the EU.
58. Radioactive materials also fall under the ‘novel entities’ planetary boundary.
59. Light pollution – Mitigation measures for environmental protection (European Commission, 2023); Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report 2025 (European Environment Agency & Joint Research Centre, 2025).
60. Action plan to reduce underwater noise | OSPAR Commission
61. For example, Impacts of environmental noise on biodiversity (European Environment Agency, 2025).
62. It is supported by other pathways which address the international impacts of climate change and pollution, and changes in Scotland’s society and economy needed to achieve the Strategy’s vision.
63. Delivering the Environment Strategy Outcome on Scotland’s Global Footprint – Evidence Base & Policy Levers
64. Including the research projects outlined in Annex B.
65. Including a UK-level indicator on the Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption.
66. Global Resources Outlook 2019: Natural Resources for the Future We Want
67. Material Flow Accounts (MFA) | Zero Waste Scotland
68. Global Circularity Gap Report: CGR 2024
69. For example: Circularity Gap Report Scotland
70. Delivering the Environment Strategy Outcome on Scotland’s Global Footprint – Evidence Base & Policy Levers
71. Strengthening approach to household recycling collection services: consultation analysis
72. For example, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Convention on Biological Diversity, among others.
73. NatureScot Opinion Survey 2024 (July 2025) and Scottish Climate Survey 2024 (April 2025)
74. For example, Physical Activity For Health: Scotland’s National Framework highlights that ‘Access to the nature-rich outdoors is a key mechanism by which people are physically active. Participating in green health activities has proven benefits for physical and mental health. People who spend more time in nature are more likely to exhibit pro-environmental behaviours and care for their environment. There are therefore clear synergies between the actions required to realise Scotland’s physical activity and health goals, and those required to realise Scotland’s environmental goals.’
75. Water-resilient places – surface water management and blue-green infrastructure: policy framework
76. For example, 30% of adults in Scotland live more than a 5 minute walk from their nearest green or blue space, rising to 38% for adults living in the most deprived areas and 41% for those from minority ethnic groups. Disabled people can also face challenges accessing these areas.
77. As set out in supporting guidance: Scottish Government Planning Guidance: Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods.
78. Such as green and blue spaces, community gardens and food growing spaces.
79. Wee Forests: Part of the TinyForest Global Family | NatureScot
80. Scotland’s Play vision statement and action plan recognises the importance of outdoor play in nature for children’s health and wellbeing.
81. Including significant health impacts from heat, cold, flooding and drought. Adverse Weather and Health Plan 2024-27 (Public Health Scotland)
82. Including physical inactivity, poor mental health and health inequalities. Further information on cost savings provided by nature to the NHS is set out in Making the Case for Nature: Insights from Scotland’s Natural Capital Analyses (2025). For example, air pollution removal by vegetation in Scotland resulted in avoided health impacts worth £140 million annually. Annual cost savings to the NHS in Scotland due to nature-related recreation activities is estimated at £870 million.
83. Graphic by NatureScot: Our Natural Health Service.
84. Teaching, learning and play in the outdoors. Drawing on survey data from 2014 and 2022, this research shows that schools located in more deprived areas offer less outdoor provision. The longest outdoor event duration in primary schools surveyed is identified across those schools located in areas categorised in the highest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile (least deprived).
85. Including recommendations on nature-based education in commissioned research: Applying the Unlocking a Better Future framework for a just transition in Scotland (Stockholm Environment Institute, 2025).
86. For example, the UN has commissioned a report on the connections across these issues (2022 ‘Animal welfare–environment–sustainable development nexus’ resolution) and called for increased ambition and urgency in addressing them through holistic approaches (2023 ‘Agriculture development, food security and nutrition’ resolution, para 27). Examples of holistic approaches include the ‘One Health’ framework, which aims to optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems, and ‘One Welfare’, which also includes human wellbeing and animal welfare.
87. For example: Nelson, V. (2025) ‘Transformative Change for Sustainability in Scotland’. A report for the Scottish Government. Chatham, UK.
88. See page 2 of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan.
89. For example, in the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment.
90. This includes research projects that explore how to support the behaviour changes needed to support goals for biodiversity (JHI), circular economy (SRUC) and air quality (JHI).
91. IPBES Nexus Assessment
92. The Scottish Health Survey 2024
93. Such as vegetables, oily and white fish, eggs, pulses and legumes.
94. Sustainable and regenerative farming – next steps: statement
95. In comparison to the 2013 baseline, in 2021 – despite a 1% per capita decrease in food waste at the household level – there was a total 2% per capita increase and an overall 5% increase in the tonnage of food wasted.
96. Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods: planning guidance
97. Transport poverty: a public health issue
98. National Transport Strategy 2 | Transport Scotland
99. Mining for the lithium needed for EV for batteries can result in overseas impacts on biodiversity and pollution, as well as on human rights.
100. EVs can generate greater microplastic pollution from tyre wear, due to their increased weight.
101. Behaviour changes needed to achieve Scotland’s goals for biodiversity
102. This is highlighted by Target 16 of the Global Biodiversity Framework: ‘Enable Sustainable Consumption Choices To Reduce Waste and Overconsumption’.
103. Consumer perceptions of and engagement with the transition to net zero
104. IPBES Transformative Change Assessment
105. For example 10,000 tonnes of waste can create up to 296 jobs in repair and reuse, compared to 1 job in incineration, 6 jobs in landfill or 36 jobs in recycling.
106. Behaviour changes needed to achieve Scotland’s goals for biodiversity
107. Specific behaviours identified included choosing sustainably sourced fish/seafood; choosing organic produce; choosing local and seasonal produce; choosing palm oil free/ certified palm oil products and certified cocoa products; choosing certified paper and wood products from sustainable sources; and avoiding consumption of products made using at-risk plant or animal species.
108. A consumer framework for addressing climate change – toolkit for policymakers
109. Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation
110. The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review
111. Maximising Scotland’s wind economy; developing a self-sustaining carbon capture, utilisation and storage sector; supporting green economy professional and financial services, with global reach; growing our hydrogen sector; and establishing Scotland as a competitive centre for the clean Energy Intensive Industries of the future.
112. Our efficiency-first approach is based on a hierarchy of industrial decarbonisation: i) firstly, reducing energy demand where possible, optimising industrial energy use and/or material efficiency; ii) then, electrifying industrial processes where feasible or, enabling switching to renewable or low carbon fuel supplies including hydrogen where appropriate; and iii) incentivising a supportive investment, policy and regulatory landscape for installations to capture industrial CO₂ emissions.
113. Mining for the ‘transition minerals’ needed for our energy transition – for example, neodymium for wind turbines and lithium for batteries – can result in overseas impacts on biodiversity and pollution, as well as on human rights; UN Resolution on Environmental Aspects of Minerals and Metals.
114. Bioenergy production can increase pressure on Scotland’s biodiversity due to the area of land needed to grow biomass crops. Any imported biomass can potentially negatively impact overseas biodiversity e.g. via deforestation.
115. Bioenergy – draft policy statement: consultation
116. Community Benefits from Net Zero Energy Developments: Analysis of responses to the consultation exercise; Community benefits from net zero energy developments consultation: engagement findings report
117. Organic Farming in Scotland: 2024
118. State of Nature Scotland
119. Commissioned research by ClimateXChange will help to inform our approach: Circular Economy Opportunities in Scottish Farming – An Evidence Review.
120. The State of Nature Scotland report notes that the range of potential pressures on Scotland’s biodiversity may include intensive use of land for forestry.
121. Principles for Responsible Investment in Natural Capital
122. Escaped fish can breed with wild salmon to produce offspring which are poorly suited to their environment and weaken the wild population’s overall resilience.
123. IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment
124. Including frameworks developed by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.
125. Global Biodiversity Framework Target 15
126. 2023 Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
127. Including a new Business Information Hub providing guidance, best practice and tools.
128. For example, by prolonging product lifespans; putting in place reporting to improve the management of food waste and surplus; avoiding disposal of unsold goods; and encouraging leasing, repair, refurbishment and reuse of products.
129. Including as part of the review of Responsible Business Conduct announced in the UK Trade Strategy.
130. Including the 2023 EU Deforestation Regulation & 2024 EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
131. Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
132. International evidence on fiscal levers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
133. Regional and place-based economic development initiatives include (among others) Regional Economic Partnerships and the linked £1.9 billion programme of city region and regional growth deals; support provided by the Scottish Hub for Regional Economic Development and Enterprise Agencies. The Scottish Government has committed to empower decision-making and investment through Regional Economic Partnerships.
134. Regional and place-based climate and environment initiatives include (among others) Regional Land Use Partnerships, Regional Adaptation Partnerships, Nature Networks, regional Just Transition Plans, Community Climate Action Hubs and National Parks.
135. Importance of Natural Capital to the Scottish Economy – Regional Analysis (2026)
136. Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo)
137. IPBES Nexus Assessment
138. The Scottish Fiscal Commission estimates that around 28% of the additional costs of achieving net zero would fall to the public purse.
139. Investor Panel recommendations: Scottish Government response
140. Investment Strategy 2025 – 2026 | Scottish National Investment Bank
141. Investment that: i) delivers integrated land use; ii) delivers public, private and community benefit; iii) demonstrates engagement and collaboration; iv) is ethical and values-led; v) is of high environmental integrity; and vi) supports diverse and productive land ownership.
142. Scottish Budget 2026 to 2027: climate change taxonomy, High-level Carbon Assessment of Scottish Budget 2026 to 2027
143. The Climate Change Taxonomy of the full Scottish Budget has been produced annually since the 2024-25 Budget. Prior to that, from 2018-19 to 2023-24, a similar exercise was carried out on the capital elements only of the Budget. The taxonomy methodology this year is consistent with that used for the 2025-26 Budget, meaning that figures are comparable.
144. Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Services Final Report: SG Response
145. Public sector procurement
146. This will include refreshing Climate Literacy and Circular Economy e-learning on the Sustainable Procurement tools to reflect recent development including the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024.
147. This will include: i) considering new regulations to require purchasing goods with recycled content, recycled or reused products or future recyclable products; and ii) developing guidance on enabling a circular approach to elements of facilities management in the public estate, for example in relation to lighting.
148. EU public procurement rules – revision
149. Infrastructure Strategy 2027-2037: consultation
150. Supported by the investment hierarchy in the draft Strategy, which prioritises making best use of existing assets before considering new infrastructure.
151. For example, as led by Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone.
152. These missions are: delivering sustainable and regenerative agriculture and food systems; delivering climate-positive and resilient landscapes; restoring nature and protecting our environment; enhancing rural and islands communities; and building the circular economy.
153. The Research Strategy commits to ‘Support the formation of a network of living lab initiatives, which are codeveloped with researchers, users and communities to help deliver sustainable land use and land management practices across Scotland.’
154. Green Jobs Barometer Scotland 2024
155. State of the Circular Economy Report | Zero Waste Scotland
156. Nature-based jobs and skills for net zero – an initial assessment | NatureScot
157. Nature Risk Rising (World Economic Forum, 2020)
158. Assessing the Materiality of Nature-Related Financial Risks for the UK (Green Finance Institute, 2024)
159. National security assessment – global biodiversity loss ecosystem collapse and national security
160. The report highlights that six ecosystem regions are critical for UK national security given the likelihood and impact of their collapse: Amazon rainforest, Congo Basin, coral reefs and mangroves, Himalayas and boreal forests in Russia and Canada.
161. This will build on existing work, including the publications referred to above; and research by James Hutton Institute on the impacts of climate change on nature and ecosystem services in Scotland.
162. Future Trends for Scotland: findings from the 2024-2025 horizon scanning project
163. Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan; Draft Transport Just Transition Plan; Draft Land Use and Agriculture Just Transition Plan; Grangemouth Industrial Just Transition Plan
164. For example: Community and Renewable Energy Scheme; Community woodlands; Get Growing Scotland
165. Community benefits from net zero energy developments: consultation; Principles for responsible investment in natural capital
166. Applying the Unlocking a Better Future framework for a just transition in Scotland (Stockholm Environment Institute, 2025) – section on ‘Unlocking change through public engagement’ (p40).
167. Air pollution in the UK – position statement | RCPCH
168. Climate Justice Fund 2024-2026: allocations
169. Loss and damage refers to the impacts of the climate crisis not averted or minimized through adaptation and mitigation activities.
170. UN Pact for the Future
171. IPBES Transformative Change Assessment
172. IPBES Nexus Assessment
173. The graphic maps the research projects to the outcome pathways they helped to inform. Note that the research project by Stockholm Environment Institute focused on the ‘society’ pathway, but also developed a holistic framework to draw together recommendations from across all main research projects. This holistic framework drew on the findings from the transformative change review by the University of Greenwich.
174. IPBES First Global Biodiversity Assessment
175. IPCC 6th Assessment report – Chapter 6: Short lived climate forcers
176. IPBES Global Assessment Report 2019 – Chapter 2.3 Status and trends – Nature’s Contributions to People
177. Further information on sectors reliant on natural capital in Scotland, and their economic value at national and regional levels, is set out in Natural capital – importance to the Scottish economy (2024).
178. Green Jobs Barometer Scotland 2024
179. For example, The ‘Scotland Visitor Survey 2023’ found that 70% of visitors stated that scenery and landscape was a key reason they chose to visit Scotland. Tourism contributes more than £4 billion to the Scottish economy each year, with 40% of tourism spend a result of nature-based tourism. Making the Case for Nature: Insights from Scotland’s Natural Capital Analyses (2025).
180. Recognised by the World Economic Forum as the two greatest risks facing humanity over the next decade: The Global Risks Report 2026 | World Economic Forum.